New York Times will now use the word 'torture'

NEW YORK, Aug. 8 (UPI) -- The New York Times will now use the word "torture" in stories regarding interrogations in which the paper is sure pain was inflicted to get information.

The Times has faced criticism for its hesitation to use the word when speaking about the controversial interrogation techniques used by the United States and specifically the Central Intelligence Agency when trying to get information from terror suspects. They had previously used Bush administration-coined euphemisms such as "enhanced interrogation techniques."

In an editorial published Thursday, executive editor Dean Baquet said The Times will no longer use these euphemisms and instead call it what it is.

"From now on, The Times will use the word 'torture' to describe incidents in which we know for sure that interrogators inflicted pain on a prisoner in an effort to get information," wrote Baquet.

He said the decision was prompted by pressure on management from journalists at The Times coupled with the recent debate over the CIA torture report.

The report, which is in the declassification process, describes the torture the U.S. engaged in during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and is expected to be released to the public soon.

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